Season 4 of the adult animated superhero series “Invincible” delivers high stakes and an even higher emotional payoff as the conflict between the heroes and the Viltrumites — the space-faring race of Superman analogues — comes to a head. Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) embraces a more cynical approach to heroism after his destructive skirmish with the Viltrumite Conquest (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) left him with the resolve to stop holding back from killing his opponents. Mark adopted his blue and black suit during season 3 and keeps it for much of this season, reflecting a darker period of his life.
Mark is truly pushed to his limits this season as his family, friends and home are placed in imminent danger. World-ending threats and villains have always appeared throughout the show — Conquest’s rampage during the season 3 finale leveled both cities and Mark’s psychological profile — yet this season, the threat of retribution from the Viltrumite Empire comes to fruition. Now, Mark must set aside his mixed emotions and work with his father Nolan (J.K. Simmons) — a Viltrumite exile and the former superhero Omni-Man — to protect his loved ones and save the galaxy.
The animation has undergone substantial changes since the first season. Gone are the days of static images of bad guys being dragged across the screen as Mark gives them a pummeling. Now, facial expressions track the emotional weight of the dialogue, with subtle shifts in the eyes and mouth registering grief, rage or resignation. Background environments are varied and inspired, and hair moves naturally in the wind of fierce battles or in the stillness of quieter scenes. The background environments are particularly striking as the viewer is treated to an array of different sights across the galaxy. Whether that’s the macabre image of billions of deceased Viltrumites forming a ring around their planet, the alien environments of Talescria’s dense cityscapes and the Coalition-allied planets or the depths of Hell itself, the show never ceases to impress with its artistic direction.
The animation helps bring the characters to life in their two dimensional form, yet the voice acting is where they really shine through. J.K. Simmons delivers a stellar performance as Omni-Man as the character struggles with the immense emotional guilt of his Viltrumite heritage and the suffering he has brought upon his family and countless others. Nolan’s road to redemption isn’t instant. It’s understandably slow as characters struggle to forgive him. Despite all the apologies, we’re left with the impression that forgiveness is going to take a fair bit longer than Nolan was hoping for.
Yet Nolan is continuously believed in by his newfound friend Allen the Alien (Seth Rogen) as they venture through the galaxy together. In fact, their dynamic offers a refreshing and lighter change of pace from the otherwise grim story. Rogen delivers much needed comedic relief that doesn’t come off as hamfisted or banal, and he works as an effective bridge between Nolan’s current and previous life.
Other voice actors deliver outstanding performances as well. Mark's conversations with his father and his half-brother Oliver (Christian Convery) are poignant and thoughtfully written. The performances of Coalition of Planets leader Thaedus (Peter Cullen) and Mark's girlfriend Samantha Eve Wilkins (Gillian Jacobs) give the dialogue palpable weight, lending realism to Thaedus's ambition to end the Viltrumite reign and Eve's inner conflict over Mark's absence. Cullen, who also voiced Optimus Prime in the "Transformers" series, may have sounded too much like the iconic Autobot in earlier seasons, but has dialed back and given Thaedus room to breathe as his own character. Eve, though not as central as in season 3, still supports Mark and plays a large part in his motivations.
Out of all the characters, the newly introduced antagonist Thragg (Lee Pace) stands out as an imposing figure with a surprising amount of depth. The animated impact frames dedicated to him — punching Nolan off a planet into space, absorbing full-force hits from Mark without flinching — earn him the strength implied by his title of Grand Regent of the Viltrum Empire. But he also displays a tactful, calculating demeanor that sets him a notch above most of the villains encountered so far. In the season finale, he offers Mark an ultimatum that involves none of the cataclysmic brutality typical of Viltrumites — and is, instead, much worse.
Although the season features a thrilling story and superb voice acting, the pacing suffers around the halfway point. Mark is thrust into Hell for an adventure that has nothing to do with the broader threat of the season, and the ramifications of the episode are barely felt. The final few episodes quickly ratchet up the intensity, however, as the Coalition of Planets gears up for all-out war against the Viltrumites.
Additionally, some character plotlines feel untethered and left to dangle as Mark and his family’s struggles take center stage. This isn’t a problem on its own, but it leaves some episodes feeling rather unfocused and characters appearing two dimensional. For example, there’s a loose plotline with the reassembly of the new Guardians of the Globe that’s quickly forgotten in lieu of Mark’s conflict. Members of this new team face a conflict early on in the season that fractures the team structure – a challenge that is scarcely explored for the rest of the season. Things back on Earth take a backseat as the focus is reframed to fit a galactic scope, and supporting characters take a hit as a result.
Overall, despite lagging at certain points in the story, season 4 of “Invincible” continues to offer a diverse and interesting take on the Superman-but-evil genre of superhero stories. Characters and locations are dynamic, and the pressure to save humanity from the Viltrumites has never been higher.
